Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

In Week 1 of the fantasy football season we saw a 63-yard attempt, top rated kickers performing like bottom tier kickers and bottom tier kickers booting 50+ yard field goals. We also saw the rise of special teams leading to the rise of numerous blocked field goals. All things to keep in mind and yet just another example of why we love this game so much, one season is never the same as the other. The game is always evolving. When it comes to evaluating kickers after the first week though, it’s important not to jump the gun and to stick to the basics until you have more information to go on. After all it’s only been a week. You don’t want to just evaluate how a kicker performed but how well team offenses and defenses did in order to give him the chance to perform in the first place. That being said, this early in the season the best way to choose which kicker to play is through the same logical list of checkpoints you should always use every week. Strength of team offense; good or bad match up; and just how good is the kicker himself.

As the season goes on, there will be more information to help us know which kickers will consistently deliver and those who should ride the pine. Here is the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 2 Kicker Rankings to help you and your fantasy lineup.

1. Ryan Longwell (Minnesota Vikings) @ Detroit

Ryan Longwell had a great start to the season during Minnesota’s victory against Cleveland. He kicked 2 FG and 4 extra points, finishing with 10 points overall. Longwell is a very good kicker on a high powered offense which should continue to score lots of points.  Look for him to continue scoring big in Week 2 against the Lions, who gave up 45 points last week. 
Point Projection: 11 points

2. Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers) vs. Cincinnati

Despite missing a FG in the Packer’s game against the Bears, Mason Crosby still put up 2 FG and 1 extra point. One of the FG was for 52 yards, which should make fantasy football owners excited about Crosby’s potential for 2009. Green Bay’s offense looks to be a force this season so Crosby should get lots of chances to prove he belongs in the upper tier of fantasy kickers. This is especially the case in Week 2 when he plays the Bengals in Green Bay. 
Point Projection: 11 points

3. John Carney (New Orleans) @ Philadelphia

John Carney only hit one field goal for 39 yards but he converted 6 extra points against the Lions in Week 1. He looks to be one of the top kickers this year. Plus he kicks in a dome for half the season.  The Saints are the most explosive offense in league which means you can expect lots of scores and lots of production from Carney. Philadelphia at home is no piece of cake but the Saints offense is just too good to pass on a kicker in their offense. 
Point Projection: 11 points

4. David Akers (Philadelphia) vs. New Orleans

Against the Panthers, David Akers made a 49 yard FG and might have made one for 51 yards if it hadn’t been blocked by the Carolina’s defense. He did however kick for 5 extra points making him a solid fantasy football performer in Week 1. The Eagles look like they are here to play. On such a powerful offense, Akers should have a great outing in week 2 when they play the Saints in Philadelphia. If McNabb doesn’t play, Akers may deserve to drop 1 or 2 notches in the rankings. 
Point Projection: 10 points

5. Neil Rackers (Arizona) @ Jacksonville

Despite a disappointing showing for the Cardinals offense, Rackers was spot on in week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. He hit 3 FG over 40 yards and an extra point as well. This is a nice start to the season for Rackers but not the Cardinal’s under-performing offense. There are too many weapons for that to continue. Expect Arizona’s playmakers to step it up and for Rackers to once again put up big numbers against the Jaguars in Jacksonville. 
Point Projection: 10 points

6. Lawrence Tynes (New York Giants) @ Dallas

Lawrence Tynes put last season’s injury behind him with a great outing against the Redskins, including a 45 yard FG and 2 more to boot. Along with 3 FG he put up 2 extra points as well. The Giants may not be as stacked at receiver as they used to but thanks to a solid O-line and a superb running game, they are still a top offense. Which means Tynes should continue to benefit week in and week. That includes in Week 2 in Dallas against the Cowboys and their 110,000 screaming fans.
Point Projection: 10 points

7. Matt Prater (Denver Broncos) vs. Cleveland 

The Broncos offense was stale in Week 1. In fact, Matt Prater may have been the only decent part of it, nailing a 48 and 50 yard FG in Cincinnati. Prater’s value depends on how the Broncos offense shapes up. If it’s anything like Week 1 he’s in for a long season. Denver plays the Browns this Sunday and despite the bad performance last week, the match up alone makes Prater a good fantasy football option. 
Point Projection: 10 points

8. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) @ New York Jets 

The Patriots offense did not look like the offense of old, though there were Tom Brady-like drives when it felt like we were watching the 2007 team on the field. Stephen Gostkowski however, looked like the same stud as always, converting 2 of 3 FG in Week 1 and finishing with 7 points. The Patriots have historically defeated the Jets in the last several years and Gostkowski has played his part, nailing 7/7 FG and going 3/3 in extra points in 2 games last year. Things have changed with Rex Ryan taking over the Jet’s defense and the Patriots getting a bit older but they haven’t changed all that much. Expect a huge day from Gostkowski. 
Point Projection: 10 points

9. Nick Folk (Dallas Cowboys) vs. New York Giants

Folk put his power and accuracy on display in Week 1 against the Buccaneers with a 51 yd FG. He ended the game with 2 FG altogether and 4 extra points. He remains one of the league’s best kickers.  The New York Giants defense is plain nasty but the Dallas offense proved that it was back and should be very successful this year. If Dallas can continue their momentum from last week, Folk could have a great day and with the Cowboys offense likely to stall at some point you can count on Folk getting a long yardage kicking opportunity. 
Point Projection: 9 points

10. Jason Elam (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Carolina  **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

Week 1 was not the best week for Jason Elam. Against an unimpressive Miami team, he missed 2 FG and an extra point. Luckily for owners he salvaged his stats somewhat by converting 2 FG, one for 50 yards. Even though accuracy issues in a dome raise a red flag, Elam gets a pass for week 1. He should bounce back to true form against Carolina this Sunday, though you are going to want to monitor a nagging left injury. If he starts missing field goals on a consistent basis it might be time to hit the panic button. 
Point Projection: 9 points

11. Ryan Succop (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. Oakland

Despite playing the Ravens in week 1, Ryan Succop did not fare too badly. He managed to land a 53 yard FG and kick in 3 extra points. That kind of long range kicking makes him someone to watch over the first few weeks. If Matt Cassel starts Week 2, Succop could have another solid outing against the Oakland Raiders. The Raider defense looked pretty good on Monday night but at home in Kansas City, expect the Chiefs offense to take a step forward, giving Succop more opportunities to score fantasy points. 
Point Projection: 9 points

12. John Kasay (Carolina Panthers) @ Green Bay

Owners looking for some decent scoring from John Kasay were not too happy in week 1. Kasay only kicked 1 FG and 1 extra point against the Eagles tough defense. It’s hard to blame Kasay for his off day considering his QB, Jake Delhomme threw 4 interceptions and was benched by his own coach. Delhomme is still the QB, but Carolina’s offense is centered around the running game, which is elite. Look for a much better performance from Kasay, who is extremely accurate, against Atlanta. Though keep a monitor on the QB situation in Carolina. 
Point Projection: 9 points

13. Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears) vs. Pittsburgh 

Even with the tough loss to the Packers and the suspect play of the Bears new franchise QB Jay Cutler, Robbie Gould did not disappoint his fantasy football owners. He booted in 2 FG, one for 47 yards and 1 extra point. The Bears offense looked rough but it’s only Week 1 and it sometimes pays to be patient. If Chicago can rebound against a tough Steelers defense (without Troy Polomalu) Gould could have a monster game. Right now, he remains a good fantasy option each week. 
Point Projection: 9 points

14. Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans) vs. Houston

Will the real Rob Bironas please stand up? Rated by some experts as one of the top kickers this year, Bironas Week 1 debut against the Steelers suggested otherwise. Granted one of his FG was blocked but he also missed from the 40. All said and done, he ended the game with 1 FG and 1 extra point. The Titans play the Texans this Sunday. Bironas is a good kicker and may have just stumbled out of the gate against one of the leagues best defenses. Expect the Titans offense to get back on track in Week 2 and for Bironas to return to fantasy relevancy. 
Point Projection: 8 points

15. Shaun Suisham (Washington Redskins) vs. St. Louis

The Redskins offense struggled against the Giants in Week 1 and Shaun Suisham’s numbers struggled along with it. He only converted one 27 yard FG and 2 extra points. The Washington offense may not have looked too sharp but in Week 2 they face the Rams. If St. Louis performs like they did last week, Suisham could see a lot more opportunities on his home turf. 
Point Projection: 8 points

16. Nate Kaeding (San Diego Chargers) vs. Baltimore

The Charge’s offense didn’t quite dominate as some expected they would against the Raiders in Week 1. However, when given the chance, Kaeding was dead on, nailing 1 FG from 47 yards and converting 3 extra points. The Chargers offense will be a very good one this season and Kaeding should see lots of opportunities to score. Unfortunately they play the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 and though they could still put up big numbers, it’s best to temper expectations for Kaeding against such a solid defense. He’s still worth playing but not if you have another option with a better match up. 
Point Projection: 8 points

17. Steve Hauschka (Baltimore Ravens) @ San Diego

Though he missed 1 FG, Steve Hauschka scored 9 fantasy points in Week 1 converting a 44 yard FG and five extra points against the Chiefs. The match up in Week 2 won’t be so easy but QB Joe Flacco and a great running game are taking the Raven’s offense to the next level this season. If Hauschka can get his accuracy issues under control, he could be a solid contributor in Week 2 if you have no other options. 
Point Projection: 8 points

18. Olindo Mare (Seattle Seahawks) @ San Francisco 

Olindo Mare didn’t make any FG in Week 1 but that’s because his only attempt was blocked by the Rams. He did put up 4 extra points, though that’s not the kind of fantasy football production that’s going to make owners very happy. Mare is not the greatest kicker, but the Seattle offense with QB Matt Hasselbeck back, could be something special in 2009. The Seahawks play San Francisco in Week 2 so look for Mare to kick in 1-2 FGs and put up 2-3 extra points. 
Point Projection: 8 points

19. Kris Brown (Houston Texans) @ Tennessee

Hopefully Kris Brown’s owners weren’t relying on his performance to decide a game because he only made 1 extra point in Week 1 against a stingy Jets defense. The Texans offense should be very good this year but it was not a good start to the season. It may not get any better in Week 2 against a strong Titan defense. Brown will put up some good numbers this season but best to look elsewhere this week as the Texans offense needs to regroup. 
Point Projection: 7 points

20. Jeff Reed (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Chicago

Jeff Reed converted a 32 yd FG in week 1 and then nailed a 33 yarder to win the game. He ended up scoring 7 points. The Steelers do not have a great offense but they are usually good enough to get down the field. The Steelers face the Bears defense in Week 2 so they could rely heavily on Reed. The question is, with what looks to be a horrendous offensive line, how many times can they get him in range. 
Point Projection: 7 points
 

21. Josh Scobee (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Arizona

It’d be a lot cooler if Josh Scobee had converted the 63 yd FG he attempted vs. Indianapolis in Week 1 but it fell short. He still managed to get 2 FGs to his stat sheet though. The Jacksonville offense is not setting the world afire right now so despite Scobee being a good kicker, he may be limited in Arizona this week. 
Point Projection: 7 points

22.  Adam Vinateri (Indianapolis Colts) @ Miami

It really does look like Adam Vinateri’s time as a great kicker has come to an end. While it’s true the Colts offense looks a little less scary this season, Vinateri didn’t help his case by missing a FG and only kicking for 2 extra points. The Colts are at Miami in Week 2 and it’s possible they put up big points. In this match up it probably won’t be Peyton Manning’s offense that’s under scrutiny it’s the accuracy and power of Vinateri’s leg. Consider him a kicker you play based more on match ups rather than talent right now. 
Point Projection: 7 points

23. Joe Nedney (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Seattle

Nedney had a pretty good day against the Cardinals last Sunday, hitting 2 FG (one for 50) and 2 extra points. He’s solid kicker when the matchup is right. The 49ers are not a bad offense but they aren’t that good either. They play a Seahawks defense that kept Rams kicker Josh Brown to one FG attempt. Granted it was the Rams but regardless Nedney’s productivity could be limited in week 2. 
Point Projection: 6 points

24. Jay Feely (New York Jets) @ New England

Jay Feely put together a decent outing in Week 1 with 1 FG and 3 extra points. With a rookie QB making his first regular season start against a solid Houston defense, that’s not so bad. If Mark Sanchez continues to play well, Feely could be a great fantasy option when the match-up is right. Week 2 is not one of them. Though the Patriots defense will be without Jerod Mayo, they can still make it a long day for the Jets rookie QB, which means Feely may not get a lot of chances to score. 
Point Projection: 6 points

25. Rian Lindell (Buffalo Bills) vs. Tampa Bay

The Bills offense stood their own against the Patriots Monday night though Ryan Lindell only booted in 1 FG from 40 and 3 extra points. Expect those numbers to get better as the season progresses.  Buffalo should score plenty against Tampa Bay. If Trent Edwards continues to look solid and Terrell Owens starts doing his thing, Lindell should rise up the ranks quickly. For now, see what the Buffalo offense can muster in Week 2. 
Point Projection: 6 points

26. Phil Dawson (Cleveland Browns) @ Denver

Considering he faced one of the league’s premier defenses, Phil Dawson did not do too badly in week 1. He converted 2 FG, both for 37 yards and 2 extra points. Denver’s defense looked better than last year but that’s not saying much. Dawson’s production relies completely on whether or not QB Brady Quinn can step up his play. That being said, don’t expect much from Dawson in Week 2 and hope for the best if you decide to use him. 
Point Projection: 5 points

27. Mike Nugent (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) @ Buffalo

After one week, the Bucs may regret cutting Matt Bryant in the off-season. That’s because Mike Nugent is the guy they signed to replace him and he missed a 46 yd FG and had another one blocked against the Cowboys. He ended up with 3 extra points at the end of the day. If Nugent can’t bounce back from his dismal Week 1 performance, you may want to avoid him altogether. Tampa Bay is in Buffalo for Week 2. Nugent should get a few opportunities but until he displays better accuracy, keep him off your roster if possible. 
Point Projection: 5 points

28. Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders) @ Kansas City 

Sebastian Janikowski nailed 2 FG and 2 extra points against the Chargers in what was a surprisingly decent display of offense and defense from the Raiders. He probably surprised fantasy football owners with his healthy 8 points. It’s yet to be seen if the Raides the Raiders. 
Point Projection: 5 points

29. Jason Hanson (Detroit Lions) vs. Minnesota

Jason Hanson did well against the Saints in Week 1 converting 2 FG and 3 extra points. Especially since rookie QB Matt Stafford threw 3 interceptions and most of the scoring was done on the defensive side. The Minnesota defense is not the Saints and we don’t expect Detroit to score 24+ points in this football game. If Stafford struggled against the New Orleans, just imagine what the Lions will look like against a totally dominant Minnesota defense. Hanson may be solid down the road but things look bleak in Week 2.
Point Projection: 4 points

30. Shayne Graham (Cincinnati Bengals) @ Green Bay

Shayne Graham only made one point in Week 1 against Denver. On top of that, the Bengals offense did not look as sharp as some would have hoped. All in all not a good sign. The Bengals play Green Bay in week 2 so hopefully Graham will get more chances to score but don’t bet on it yet. If you have other options use them. 
Point Projection: 4 points

31. Dan Carpenter (Miami Dolphins) vs. Indianapolis

It’s not Dan Carpenter’s fault his offense looks anemic. He only scored one point in Week 1 against Atlanta. That trend will continue against good teams. Carpenter looks like a match up kicker. When faced with bad team, he has the potential to put solid numbers. Week 2 the Dolphins host the Colts. Not a great match up. 
Point Projection: 3 points

32. Josh Brown (St. Louis Rams) @ Washington

You knew a Ram was going to be down here. Fortunately, Josh Brown is a pretty good kicker. Unfortunately he’s on a very bad team and had a very bad outing with the 1 FG attempt he had as he missed it. The Rams play the Redskins who have a pretty stout defense. Brown is not an option at anytime until the team looks better. 
Point Projection: 3 points

Week 2 Rankings:  QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF  (click to read)

Week 2 Start & Sit:  Start ‘Em | Sit ‘Em  (click to read)

Week 2 Waiver Wire Advice:  Pick Them Up  | Cut Them Loose

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